04/03/2026
It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that we share the news of the unexpected passing of our dear-dear friend, Royal Bahamas Police Force Sergeant 230, and fellow Bahamian artist, Eric Ellis.
Eric was family to us. We were friends for over fifty years, and he was Jolyon’s best man at our wedding, standing easily a foot taller than my husband, he was a giant of a man.
He was serious and blunt — no frills, no fluff, never saying more than he needed to. But beneath that no-nonsense exterior was a quiet, gentle soul with a dry sense of humor and a deeply sensitive, warm heart. He’d send us regular WhatsApps just to check in on us, or to literally tell us he loved us. Sometimes a kit of snapper and crawfish from Andros would show up, just because. Other times, he’d fuss at me for not selling more of his artwork — telling me to hustle harder. Lol. That was Eric.
Eric was a self-taught artist. No formal training. Just a raw, intuitive talent with a deep love for his country. He carried The Bahamas in his heart and through his paintings, he gave it back to us. What quietly lived on the inside came pouring out on canvas in riotous color and energy. I really believe it was his preferred way of speaking.
Eric’s work captured The Bahamas in a way that was entirely his own. Junkanoo in full rush. Music and dance suspended mid-beat. Bold patterns and masks. Over-the-hill life and sleepy island settlements. Fishing boats and regatta sloops skimming bright waters. Potcakes underfoot. Policemen in pith helmets. Choirs singing. Birds in flight. Sea grape leaves, Poui trees dripping their juicy petals. Schoolgirls with ponytails skipping along in uniform. Chickens in the yard. Grammy on the porch smoking pipe and plaiting straw. Island women balancing baskets of fruit on their heads. Andros folks catching crabs. Freshly washed clothes gently drying on the line. Bougainvillea blazing in the sun — and the colors! Colors, colors everywhere!
I have always loved Eric’s work; it is wonderfully whimsical, full of joy, and completely his own — no one else painted quite like him. For me, he captured Bahamian life from a simple, sweet, and innocent perspective — from a time that no longer seems to exist, except in paintings and poetry.
It feels impossible to imagine that there will be no more new paintings from Eric. That he left us on his birthday adds a whole level of sadness that i find hard to put into words. This is yet another profound loss for the Bahamian art community.
Please remember his family in your prayers and hearts. Funeral arrangements are still in progress, and we will share details when we learn more.
Eric Ellis (1964-2026)
Rest in Peace
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